PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Robert Mackenzie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Martin Burns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mackenzie comes to the cage accompanied by Candlemass - Bewitched. Martin Burns will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Mackenzie
vs
Burns

183 cm
21
228 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

192 cm
25
255 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Robert Mackenzie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Martin Burns!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Sam Margolis and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burns fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mackenzie keeps the fight on the outside.
Burns lands with a shot to the body.

Mackenzie fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Burns sprawls well initially but Mackenzie persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ground and pound from Mackenzie.

Mackenzie stands up out of the half guard.
Donk. Burns catches Mackenzie right on the button with a cross.
Burns lands a nice looking body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Burns lands with a hook. Mackenzie tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Mackenzie closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Mackenzie stops Burns from getting back to his feet.
Mackenzie wants to control but Burns is keeping him busy.

Mackenzie is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Burns has managed to free his arm - good work.
Mackenzie is breathing heavily.
Burns pushes Mackenzie off looking to stand but Mackenzie dives back in and keeps control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mackenzie is looking for a kimura but Burns is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mackenzie to get the leverage.
Mackenzie prevents Burns from standing back up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Burns has Mackenzie up against the cage in a clinch.

Burns breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Burns lands with a nice body punch.
Mackenzie shoots in for a double leg but Burns sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Burns forces Mackenzie back against the cage and clinches.
Burns landing knees to the body.
Burns scores a nice knee to the body.
Burns lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Mackenzie backwards.
Burns digs a right hand into Mackenzie's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Mackenzie's gas tank.
Burns lands a knee to the body.
Burns unloads a knee to the mid-section. Mackenzie lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns connects with a knee to the head.
A right hand to the body from Burns.
Burns presses Mackenzie against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Burns is pushing Mackenzie up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Burns lands with a light punch inside.
A left hand lands to the body for Burns.

Burns escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Martin Burns seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Burns is looking to clinch.

Mackenzie decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mackenzie has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Mackenzie stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burns takes the fight into the clinch.
Burns stalling against the cage.
Burns putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Mackenzie in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Mackenzie is working for takedown but Burns is calmly controlling the position for now.
Burns manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Burns manages to break the clinch.
Mackenzie avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Martin Burns is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Burns gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Burns is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Mackenzie drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Burns dives on top into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mackenzie has his hands on Burns's head, controlling the position.
Burns wants to stand but Mackenzie has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mackenzie seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martin Burns dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Burns throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Mackenzie's head.
Burns tries to clinch up but Mackenzie circles away and keeps his distance.
Burns throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Burns goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Burns scores with a head kick.
Burns moves in looking to clinch but Mackenzie pushes him off.
Burns walks into a left hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Burns throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mackenzie shoots in for a takedown but Burns shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Robert Mackenzie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Burns has Mackenzie up against the cage in a clinch.
Burns with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Burns is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Burns lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Burns manages to break the clinch.
Burns ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A head kick misses from Burns.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mackenzie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Burns as he avoids it easily.

Burns moves into the clinch.
Burns lands with a right to the head.
Burns presses Mackenzie against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Mackenzie wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Mackenzie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Burns with a knee to the head.
Burns is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mackenzie is defending well for now.
Burns is trying to stall.
Burns with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Burns breaks the clinch.

Mackenzie moves into the clinch successfully.
Burns misses with a knee strike.
A head punch on the inside from Burns fails to land.
Mackenzie drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Burns gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A knee to the head by Burns.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mackenzie tightens his grip and picks Burns up, before dumping him to the ground. Burns manages to land in guard.

Burns has his feet on Mackenzie's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Burns throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Mackenzie closes this distance looking for a takedown but Burns circles away.
Martin Burns seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Burns fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mackenzie, pushing him back against the cage.
Mackenzie tries to score a body lock takedown but Burns shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Burns connects with a nasty looking knee right to Mackenzie's face.
Burns leaning his opponent against the cage.
Burns is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mackenzie is defending well for now.
Burns prevents the takedown attempt.
Burns gets through Mackenzie's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Nice body punch from Burns.

Burns escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mackenzie shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Burns defends it nicely.
Burns connects with a body shot.
Burns throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Mackenzie shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Burns sprawls well. Burns wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mackenzie gets slowly back to his feet.

Burns moves into the clinch successfully.
Mackenzie is trying to drag Burns to the mat but Burns just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Burns's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
A nice right hand lands inside from Burns.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Burns breaks the clinch.
Burns displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mackenzie.

Burns clinches.
Burns connects with a nasty looking knee right to Mackenzie's face.

Burns escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Burns blocks a head kick by Mackenzie.
Burns fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mackenzie throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Burns's waist but Burns gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mackenzie off to one side.
Mackenzie looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Burns gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Burns lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Burns scores with a shot to the side of Mackenzie's head.
Burns throws a punch but it's blocked by Mackenzie.
Mackenzie has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Burns avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martin Burns showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nice body punch from Burns.

Mackenzie closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mackenzie lands in his opponent's guard.
Burns wants to stand up but Mackenzie is controlling him.

Mackenzie gets to his feet. Burns looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Burns throws a nice looking combination but Mackenzie bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The fight stays on the outside here - Burns looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Burns checks the leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Burns tries to clinch but Mackenzie moves out of range.
Burns tries to clinch but Mackenzie moves out of range.

Mackenzie clinches up against the cage.
Burns pushes off an throws an elbow but Mackenzie leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Mackenzie goes for a takedown in the clinch but Burns prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Burns putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Mackenzie in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Burns gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Mackenzie.
Burns has Mackenzie pushed against the cage.
Burns makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Burns throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Mackenzie prevents a body shot from Burns.
Mackenzie avoiding damage as Burns throws knees to the body.
Burns misses with a punch to the body.

Mackenzie has hold of one of Burns's legs. Burns is fighting the takedown attempt but Mackenzie gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Burns wants to get back to his feet but Mackenzie is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mackenzie landing with the ground and pound.

Mackenzie stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Mackenzie looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Burns!
Burns really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mackenzie. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mackenzie scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Burns?
Burns wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Mackenzie lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Burns wants to try and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mackenzie with a couple of short strikes.
Burns wants to get back to his feet.
Mackenzie with the ground and pound from mount.
Mackenzie lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Mackenzie moves to the back position.
Burns is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Mackenzie controls the action.

Burns is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mackenzie looking to break Burns's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Burns remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Mackenzie will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Robert Mackenzie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Burns looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Can Burns hold on?! Mackenzie is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Burns looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

Burns is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.
Mackenzie tried to score with a low kick but Burns checks it.
Burns lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Martin Burns is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mackenzie blocks a head kick by Burns.
Mackenzie misses with a series of wild punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robert Mackenzie showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Burns has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Martin Burns!